A Fine Balance

I have an interesting talent. With each passing year, it gets more challenging, with more obstacles getting in the way. This talent is juggling. I am a fantastic juggler. Well, at least in a metaphorical sense. Put a set of clubs in my hands and I couldn’t juggle for beans. But when it comes to my life, being married and running a household, a full-time job, hobbies – it is a constant juggling act – except it feels like I’m juggling elephants sometimes.

The problem is, my talent is not unique. My status at the moment is what sociologists call DINKY which stands for dual-income-no-kids-yet. Ask any DINKY you know and they will tell you that there aren’t enough hours in a day. I think the reason for this is because when we were younger we were so focused on school and achieving careers that we simply did not have time to focus on other things.

But now we are grown up and we can do anything, so why shouldn’t we? So apart from our careers, we take that acting class/dance lesson/poetry workshop.

We are in an age of empowerment which is so positive. However, does this mean that we are not accepting our limits? And where does it lead? To self-fulfilment or just plain burn out?

At the end of the day, I think it’s a question of balance. Which is another talent in itself. After all, the most impressive juggling is done on a tightrope.